Our Mission

Brought to you by United Way Suncoast, HandsOn Suncoast helps build a strong, caring community by mobilizing volunteers to engage in meaningful service projects across DeSoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties.

Who We Are

HandsOn Suncoast builds stronger communities through volunteerism. We meet critical needs through volunteer service and civic engagement. Our projects make the Suncoast Region a better place to live for everyone. We inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action.

HandsOn Network is the largest volunteer network in the nation and is the volunteer focused arm of Points of Light Institute, which includes 250 affiliate Action Centers in 37 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annual, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at about $635 million annually.

History

The Volunteer Center, a service of United Way of Hillsborough County, Inc. started HandsOn Tampa Bay in early 1995. Five program areas were chosen as the initial base for projects, which were Children, Homelessness & Hunger, Housing and Rehabilitation, Food Distribution and the Environment. Since then, our key areas of service have evolved to these key areas:

Animals & Environment

Children, Youth & Family

Disaster

Educaiton & Literacy

Homelessness & Hunger

Persons with Disabilities

Seniors

In June 2012, United Way Tampa Bay merged with United Way of Sarasota County (which served Sarasota & DeSoto counties) to become United Way Suncoast. With that merger, the volunteer center's name changed to HandsOn Suncoast. Then in July 2017, United Way Suncoast acquired United Way of Manatee County, which has expanded our organization to a five county service region.

What We Do

HandsOn Suncoast is the Suncoast region's premier platform for volunteering and community service. We unite volunteers with fun, flexible service projects that help build a strong, caring community.

Through our online Action Center, you'll find many ways to make a difference. We offer a wide variety of fun, flexible, hands-on projects every month. With HandsOn, you can volunteer as much or as little time as you have available. Whichever project you choose, you'll find that HandsOn is the perfect way to give the gift of you!